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Analyzer

Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation

104K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.5%Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.7%Based on 104K games
0%50.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.7%
Outcome Distribution
47.9%5.1%47.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Nf3
Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation
Analyzen=104K
Avg Length38 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.1%

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 50.5% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.2% and 50.7%), based on 104K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.7% · Classical best · UltraBullet worst

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 45.9% win rate (211 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.6% win rate (613 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.0% win rate (1,328 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.5% win rate (2,962 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.4% win rate (7,378 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.1% win rate (17,088 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.0% win rate (29,674 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.9% win rate (35,421 games)
  • 2500+: 52.0% win rate (9,599 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (55%), worst in UltraBullet (47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.5% win rate (120 games)
  • Bullet: 47.5% win rate (36,651 games)
  • Blitz: 47.8% win rate (60,250 games)
  • Rapid: 49.5% win rate (6,819 games)
  • Classical: 55.2% win rate (434 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+——

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 42.9% expected score (62 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (120 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 36.9% expected score (29 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (183 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (314 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 55.8% expected score (112 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (480 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (605 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (233 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 43.3% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 56.9% expected score (13 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (1,087 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (1,416 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (405 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 54.7% expected score (41 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 43.7% expected score (2,590 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (3,793 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (859 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 57.2% expected score (110 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 42.6% expected score (39 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (4,973 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (10,328 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (1,632 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 63.2% expected score (116 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (26 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (7,463 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (19,923 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (2,136 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.7% expected score (126 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (13,095 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (20,964 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (1,319 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 75.4% expected score (32 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.7% expected score (6,718 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.2% expected score (2,787 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 64.2% expected score (94 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Old Indian Defense
49.1%
Variations (5)
Old Indian Defense: Aged Gibbon Gambit
48.0%
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nc3
48.7%
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nf3
48.7%
Old Indian Defense: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation
48.5%
Old Indian Defense: Janowski Variation
50.0%
Analyze Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate?

The Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 104K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation perform best?

The Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.0% win rate for white (9.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (55.2%) outperforms UltraBullet (46.5%) by 8.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation?

The Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a sharpness score of 94.9 (decisive), meaning 94.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 45.9% (90% CI: 40.3%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 211 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 1.6% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 44.3%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 613 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 47.7%-52.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 45.0%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 3.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.5%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 7.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 45.5%-46.8%) win rate for white, based on 17K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.5%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 30K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.1%-52.8%) win rate for white, based on 9.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 6.8% draw rate.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 39.1%-54.0%) win rate for white (120 Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.5%.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.1%-48.0%) win rate for white (37K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.2%) win rate for white (60K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-50.5%) win rate for white (6.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.3%.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation has a 55.2% (90% CI: 51.3%-59.1%) win rate for white (434 Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.0%.

Is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation a good opening?

The Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.